I wasn't the one who said it:
In the same way, you, when you have done all you were ordered to do, say: We are useless servants; we have only done what we were supposed to do. Luke 17.10
According to the Lord Jesus, the definition of useless is not someone who is idle or just sits around and does nothing all day. His take on it was that the useless person is the one who does only what he should have done — in other words, nothing extra, no more than what was expected of him.
Of course, the goal is to become a useful servant, someone who exceeds expectations. But we know such people are rare.
The problem is that there are too many people who need to improve a lot just to achieve "useless" status. That's because they don't do even what they are supposed to.
If you have no ambition to become a useful servant, then at least be useless. Less than that is to waste your existence.
Read this message in portuguese
48 comments:
Bp Renato,
Oh my goodness!!!
Extremely strong & perhaps w/ righteous anger...
Yes, I believe "the goal is to become a useful servant, someone who exceeds expectations...." but there are folks who would like to do just that but find themselves between a rock & a hard place. One of the reasons is they don't think what they do matters because they don't like nor believe in themselves.
However, there are folks who desire to be useful for our Lord!
Your point is duly-noted!
Thank you.
LillyEV
Bishop Renato,
This is very interesting. It's not only to do what we are told to do but more! It's surprising to see how being useless is really a person who doesn't do more. It just shows if we want to be a useful servant we go to exceed in everything we do and work hard to do our best. Thanks.
Susana Ortega
ri, usa
I remember exactly when this passage was taught in church a few years ago. Since, I never forgot the words of the pastor or how I felt as he was speaking. I mean, the Lord Jesus Himself said that even if you do what you are supposed, you are useless! How painful is that? We must always exceed expectations that others have of us and that we have of ourselves. When we have given our all, then we have to add something extra, a little twist. I really dont want to be considered an "useless" servant.
Very Strong!!! bishop i really understand the meaning and it is true that is not what the Lord is saying just someone who sits and does nothing he means much more he means a servant that lacks intiative, initiative to go and do much more not just what was expected from him. And sometimes with out us not realizing we fall into being that servant and were being useless were not vijilando our ways. Todo lo que asemos is not enough we must exceed in it much more! Thanks Bishop really something to think about (Wiznelly Suazo Alto Manhattan New York)
Very strong message Bp!
Being useless is not about only doing nothing but doing only what we are supposed to do.
Thank you Bp it showed me that I have to do more than it's being asked from me if I dont want to be useless...
When Our Lord Jesus said that after all we have done we should call ourselves "useless sevants", He was WARNING us to don´t fall in the mistake of becoming PRIDE.
For all the glory should be of God and God alone.
The same kind of warning he gave, when he send out the seventy...
Think about it!
In another words I believe that in the work of God, for example, it is not enough to be obedient- in which is the same as being useless! God expects us to have initiative. Thanks for this post Bishop as it is a real eye-opener.
strong but simple, you said a lot in few words, it makes me think; how many times have i failed to do what the least of what was expected of me; i couldn't call myself a servant in those times because i failed to deliver anything of any use. Pushing the boundaries, exceeding expectations is what makes us to stand out, we call Gods attention when we do more, but even still we think we could have done more. who is to say how high we can go?
Jessica,
London, UK
hi Bp renato
this is very strong we have a aim to become useful servert, we even try to work hard to become a useful servert but some where down the line we start to get relax and we forget what where surposed to do we need to fright and have that frist love when we alway what to be useful for God in everyway we have to start believe in are self and remember God purpose for are life thank for the message from venetia palmer
This is true Bishop,
we have to always give more if we want to be useful by God, not just do what we are told, but be a true servant who goes beyond that, does more always.
When I reflect on "useless" what comes to mind is the dictionary meaning of it-a waste of time, something without a purpose-however, the meaning goes beyond this. Bishop's message is honest, when we think of those people who are successful, we come to notice that they all have something in common, they did more than what was asked. They went the extra steps, ran the extra mile...which explains why they went further
Wow Bishop Thanks for the message it is really strong and to think that I use to think that being uselss meant something else!!
very touching nd ill defenetly do my best not to be useless but to always do more!
Bishop Renato,
Your comment stuck with me for days. I pondered and pondered then I came into the blog and read commentaries to your post and realized that it is a race and that in fact their are not stop signs and that the race is violent so if you plan to stay in the race in order to avoid being useless our best bet is to jump on the train because the race is extremely fast and in fact their is no such thing as stopping to think about it! Presevere keep going and going with the run! That's what I am trying to do stick with your pastors schedule and keep going like them pray alot work alot sleep a little.
NATALIA
This is very strong, I don't want to be an a useless servant, we have to do the best in all we do for our Lord. The work has to be done well.
We must always keep this in mind and practice. Many mistake in thinking that just because they've obeyed God they'll have some type of special merit. As servants we must always try to go above and beyond what is expected and required from us. When we're surprised by our own outcome, that's when we know we've gone the extra mile.
Thank you Bp,
This is very strong, I understand that I cannot just do what I am expected to do, but I need to go an extra mile in everything thing that is placed on my hands or that I am responsible for.
Another thing is that we cannot hang around waiting to be told what we already know we must do; as servant we need to be at all times ready to be useful servants.
Many people even wonder why they are not blessed or promoted at their jobs; worst being used by God more..….this is just the answer for their question.
Thnx for the revelation.
Mso
Cape Town
I have never thought of this bible verse in the way that when you do only what you are told you are actually useless, but that God is looking for people who will go the extra mile and do beyond what they are expected.
THAT'S GOOD AND IMPORTANT.
When I first saw this title, I was confused but after reading it makes sense. It's so strong that What Jesus considers being a useless servant is what us humans consider 'sufficient'. A true servant is always looking for ways to improve and exceed and I have just learnt one: do more than what is expected.
Very Strong! The truth is strong.
God has been teaching me how to be a helper everywhere I go not just in church, but still and especially with our crazy routines in America those who try really hard make it just to be on the "useless" status. I want more, I want to give more, so I will definitely keep this post in mind and honor my Lord by doing more than it is expected regardless of the circumstances.
Thanks Bishop for this post its so true. I remember a pastor telling us " when I asked you for something its already too late. You should do before it is asked. I definitly want to be a useful servant and go the extra mile.
After I had read this post. I started to examine myself. This post was just what I needed. I rather be useful than useless.
Bp,Renato,
very strong ,we can not accept being a servant more, plus we have to make a difference where we are because God counts on us.
Thank you,for you message.
JHB SOUTH AFRICA
Hi Bp Renato,
Very strong message. I don't ever want think I've done a lot because Jesus says I've done only what I was expected to do. I want to be a useful servent and do extra.
Thanks!
very strong Bishop.a goal of a servant is to be usefull to God is always to do more than what is required. yes we can be useless do what is required from us but a that will not be enough to call the attention of God. we have to do something that will call the attention of God.
Wake up call!!! It's so easy to take breather, take a bow and stop when you've done what is required. It's easy to slip into that mind frame and then forget there is the extra mile to go.
The word useless somehow doesn't sound attractive and doing what is required suddenly is not something to be applauded.
Great message!
hallo bisschop Renato
ik dacht er nooit zo aan.
ik ga nu ook mijn best doen,
om boven iemands verwachtingen van mij te komen.
dank u voor dit woord.
That's so true, quite often we don't live up to our potential. We become so used to settling and failing, that we expect little of ourselves. We fill ourselves with excuses of why we can't do this or do that, why we can't do what's expected of us. That is indeed a waste of our existence, because if we are to go on what the Bible says that God wouldn't give us what we can't handle, it means we have it in us to do at the very least what is expected of us, in which case we are useless. From then on, the extra we do will make us useful.
This blog post is a real WAKE UP CALL! Its powerful and straight forward. Its so strong to see that for God, the useful servants are only those that truly give their all and much more than what is required... those whose actions of faith surprise even themselves; those who go THE EXTRA MILE.
Many are those who aim to be among the USEFUL servants but only their 'works' and time will show this professed desire.
Thank you so much for this post
May God bless you!
This message is very strong.
To be a useful servant requires sacrifice, and few are the ones who are willing to pay the price.
Very strong Bishop,
Lets push ourselves to do more to go that extra mile. And to be unsatisfied with our selves when we don't
Thank You for sharing Bishop, this message is the eye opener. I think we have to do things with excellence, putting our heart and strength we won't have the title or status of the useless servant. We cannot just do what is expected of us, we have to excel for the glory of our Lord Jesus.
Good evening Bishop Cardoso.
Thank you so much for this very strong message. It really helps me a lot. Yes we must at least be useless. Do what is ordered for us to do.Cause sometimes or most of the time even these things we failed to do and I realize here that if I will allow this to happen I am living for nothing. I am worse than a useless.
Hence i must obey all that is ordered for me to do to become "useless"
And after being useless need to fight to do more. In order to be useful to GOD.
Thank you so much Bishop.
Bishop,
This really makes you think and examine your self as a servant.
"At least be useless"
This is an eye open... i used to always taught being useless was for the ones that didnt do nothing. But God has shown me what type of servant ive been.... that when when we do what was accept of us then we always useless... Never realized that before...
If you have no ambition to become a useful servant, then at least be useless. Less than that is to waste your existence.
The word of God teaches us so much. The devil works hard and subtly, trying to overwhelm us and make us think we can't do it. If we obey the word of God though, his words will have no effect, because we want to obey God more than to give ears to his lies...
Oh my gosh!! "At least be useless" – that sounds so painful. Who want's to be useless? I sure don't. This is a wake-up-and-look-at-what-you-are-doing call. Thanks
That’s what it takes to be a servant. It's either useless or useful servant. I always pray to be a useful servant because there is no forcing when it comes to doing the work of God and it becomes enjoyable.
Thank you Bp
hello Bishop lets us give our best to do more than what is require that is what makes a difference within the person to become a better servant not just to do what needs to be done but to do much much more thank youu
The message is very strong !!! we have to do more than we already have done and when we think we're finished it's just the beginning !! An d if we truely do like this than our faith won't get the chance of getting weak !!
Will definately apply this, there is nothing worse than to do the least for God. I always think that Jesus sacrifice was so great for me, so I need to constantly give Him my best. It's not always easy, but it becomes natural the more you give your all, to be useful.
This is so powerful, I have been getting same message these days and it makes one feel ashamed that you cannot even be useless (unprofitable servants).
I was so shocked by this status but after reading it, it shows me how humble we truly have to be, just to think of how much we must do just to become useless.
Do more than you are expected to do to become a useful servant , a true useful servant is always looking for ways to do more for their master without waiting for their master to tell them . This is very strong and really made me contemplate on whether I’m a useless servant or a useful servant to Jesus, my aim is to become a useful servant and I can also do this by doing more for Jesus than is expected of me.
Hi Bishop,
Reading this left me speechless for a little while. To think that if you do what you are required, you are only at the status of useless and not useful before the Lord Jesus is mind blowing! Yes we all know that we must be useful as servants otherwise clear the way for someone else but I have to say the line between being useful and useless blurred because one often thinks they are being useful when they do what they are required, how very wrong.
Thank you very much for this, my eyes have truely been opened.
Many times we just do what we are told, as you said, or not even that. People think that just doing enough will take them somewhere in life but they are surely mistaken. Just doing enough in life just makes us "useless", we have to aim higher and ask God to give us that ambition to excel and honor Him with everything we do. Thanks for this message bishop it is really an eye opener.
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